- Location: Eisenberg, Mühlenstraße
- Time: Tuesday afternoon (17.02.2026)
- Cause: Microsleep
- Damage: Car and street lamp heavily damaged
Eisenberg/Jena. A single moment of fatigue was enough to cause a serious traffic accident in Eisenberg’s Mühlenstraße on Tuesday afternoon. As reported by the police from the Saale-Holzland-Kreis, a 52-year-old driver lost control of her vehicle after briefly nodding off at the wheel.
The Course of the Accident in Mühlenstraße
According to current police findings, the driver was traveling out of town. In a moment of physical exhaustion, she fell into a so-called microsleep. The consequences were immediate: the car veered off the road to the left and headed straight for the street lighting.
The impact was so forceful that the affected lamp post fell over. This required not only the deployment of the police and a towing service but also the rapid intervention of the responsible energy supplier. Since power lines could have been damaged or exposed by the bent pole, technicians had to immediately disconnect the lamp from the grid to eliminate risks to pedestrians and residents.
High Property Damage and Investigations
Significant property damage was caused to both the 52-year-old’s vehicle and the municipal infrastructure. A precise quantification of the amount of damage is still pending at this time. However, it is certain that the car was no longer drivable due to the force of the collision and had to be towed.
The police have initiated an investigation to legally evaluate the exact course of the accident. In cases of microsleep, the suspicion of endangering road traffic is often raised, as physical deficiencies – in this case, exhaustion – impair driving ability.
Danger of Fatigue at the Wheel
The incident in Eisenberg, which fortunately ended without personal injury, brings the topic of road safety and fitness to drive back into focus. Experts repeatedly warn against underestimating the signs of fatigue. Anyone who yawns, blinks frequently, or has difficulty staying in their lane should stop the vehicle immediately and take a break.
Microsleep is considered one of the most common causes of accidents on country roads and motorways. Reaction time in this state is zero, which can lead to massive damage even at low speeds, as shown by the fallen pole in Mühlenstraße.
The police appeal to all road users in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis and Jena to only participate in road traffic when rested, so as not to endanger themselves and others.
Sources:
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